Shell-closing machine.



H. AUCHU.

SHELL CLOSING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 0012 13.1 11.

Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

iwi

H xv J Wm. i 4. w I I L H. AUGHU.

SHELL GLOSINGV MACHINE.

APPLIGATIOII 11.21) 001213. 1911.

1 Patented Apr. 8, 1913.

92 a I a SHEETS-SHEET 2.

H. AUGHU.

SHELL CLOSING MACHINE APPLICATION FILED 0011a, 1911.

1 5 522 Patenfied Apr. 8, 1913.

3 3HEETS-SHEET 3.

" instrumentalities,

HENRY AUCHU, 0F EMPORIUM, PENNSYLVANIA.

SHELL-CLOSIN G MACHINE.

To all whom e't may concern:

Be it known that I, Hnivni AUoIIU, a citizen or" the United tita-tes, residing at Emporium, county of Cameron, and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful improvements in Shell-Closing Machines, of which the following is a speci lication.

This invention relates to shell closing ma chines.

My object is to provide a chine of simple, inexpensive and durable construction which will be rapid and safe in operation, by which filled paper cartridges or shells containing explosive may be closed or crimped in a new manner.

The invention has for a further objectthe provision of novel means for holding the shell and for releasing it at will; novel means by which a shell of any diameter may be held by the machine and closed or erimped; novel shell closing or crimping mechanism adapted to form a new kind of told or closure for the shell, and other novel rapid and safe in operation.

The shell closing or folding means is susceptible of use on other types of machine than that set forth in the following description and shown in. the drawings, and I, therefore, consider the shell closing means as constituting an invention in and of itself; similarly, other features of the invention are susceptible oi changes and modifications and the present disclosures are to be deemed as explanatory rather than restrictive of the invention. Furthermore, the shell closing means is susceptible of modification and I lay claim to all changes therein coming within the spirit and scope of the in vent-ion in that particular respect;

in the accompanying drawings -l igure 1 is a perspective of the invention with certain parts broken away; Fig. 2, a side elcration; Fig. 3, a vertical section through the shell holder and the shell closing means; Fig. 4-, a plan View looking down on the shell holder; Fig. 5, a perspective detail of one of the shell holding blocks; Fig. (3, a longitudinal section through the shell closing means; Fig. 7, an end view thereof; Fig. 8, a perspective of the plunger for the shell folding means; Fig. 9, a perspective of the shell folding means; and Fig. 10, a perspcc tile 01" the folded end of the shell.

The base 1 may be supported on a table or Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed October 13, 1911.

shell closing m arendering the machine Patented Apr. 8, 1913. Serial No. 854,505.

other suitable support, below which is a hinged treadle 2 for depression by the foot of the operator Whose hands are thus left free for placing and removing the shells. The connections of the treadle Wit-h the machine appear fully hereinafter. 4

Mounted upon the base 1 is the shell holder Which consists of a fixed member or leaf 3 and a movable member or leaf 4: which is hinged at 5 to an upright 6. The members 3 and 4: are provided with shell holders 7 and 8. These may by said members, but they are preferably removable so that holders having openings 9 of the proper size may besubstituted according to the diameter of the shell which is to be closed. These removable holders may have any suitable connection with the men'1be1s3 and 4, but they are preferably provided with a dove-tailed tongue 10 adapted for reception in a corresponding vertical mortise in the members 3 and 4 and to rest upon a shoulder 11. holders is shown in detaillin Fig. 5, and the manner in which they are carried by the members 3 and 4 will be clear from Fig. 4.

The shell 12 is adapted to rest upon the base 1 and to be received in the grooves 9 of the holders 7 and 8 and to be firmly, yet easily, grasped by said holders.

The shell .12 is of paper and of a type commonly employed for holding dynamite or other explosives, the lower end of the shell having first been closed in any preferred manner, and the explosive then filled within the shell to within a short distance of its upper end, whereupon the open end of the shell is ready for folding, or closing. The shell shown in Figs. 1 and 3 has its upper cud shown partially folded or creased to illustrate how it appears after it has been acted upon by the crimping part of the folding mechanism of the present invention, but when placed in the machine, its upper end is completely open or tubular.

Carried by the member suitably journaled. Extending over this roller and through a slot 14 in the member 3 and crosswise of the holder, with its end 15 passed through a slot in the member 4 and secured to said member at 16, is a strap, cord or other" suitable flexible member 17, which has a coil spring 18 connecting it to the trcadle 2, the purpose of which is to cause the hinged member 4, to close and grasp the shell 12 when the treadle is. de-

3 is a roller13,

One of these be permanently carried pressed. the spring L9 permitting further depression of the trezullc utter tne holder closed. to cause the shell closing means to fold. the end oithe shell. A spring 19 interposed between the incn'ihers and 4, tends to normally open said members so that a shell may he readily inserted between the holders 7 and S. and upon the release of pressure from the trearlle 2, the members automatically open to permit the closed or folded shell to he removed. Pivoted to the upright. (l is an arm :20 which extends lengthwise and over the shell holding cleric t. Depending; rrom and secured to the arm '20 by a remoraliie pin :21 a. center toldine; plunger whose lower end is of the form shown in Fit. 8, being provided inn groores or channels 93 and having: a flat lower end through which said chz'inuels opeu.

Referring to l igs. 3, 6, 7 and represents a tubular criniper which tclcseoped over and slidable on the lower end of the plunger, being loosely connected thereto and suspended theretroi'n by a, pin-and-slot. tastening and guide 26 which. while holding the parts in the position shown in Figs. 3 and 6, permits the iiluneer to continue its downward movement att er the arrest at the criinper F25. The mouth of the crimpcr is of tapered or hell shape, as shown at 27. and is preferably provided with an annular grooved terminus 28 at its upper end. Arranged prefeahly radially of the crimper and disposed inside of it are the folders which are relatively thin and whose planes extend lengthwise. (it the criuiper. The lower edges :30 of these Folders are beveled or inclined. The (-riinper 35 is received Within a head 3]. and the flange 32 of the criinper bears against. the under surface of said head. The head 31 is carried by a Vertically movable slide 33 whose lower part slides in av giiide 3-1 (Fig. and is sustained by a spring 35 hearing on the base 1. Rising from the head 31 is an upright;- 36. The upper ends of the slide 33 and the u ri ht 35 are irorided with slots 37 and-38. The slide 33 has an. abutment or stop 39. A removable pin -10 which passes through the arm 20, is adapted to slide in the slots 37 and. 88. interposed between the head 31 and the arm 20 and surrounding the plunger 22, is a coil spring Secured to the arm 20 is an. upright; rod 4-9 which passes through an opening 43 in the treadle 2 and is provided with a head or an adjustable nut 4.4 which normally lies some distance below the treaelle 2 so that it will not: be engaged thereby when the treaclle is first depressed.

Normally the holder kept open by the spring 19, the treadls Being then up. The operator places a filled shell whose upper encis OLJ'JH. in the holder and then depresses the treadlc 9., "X doing which the strap 1'? pulls the member toward the member 3 the holder 7, in conjunction with holder the shell in the position shown and 3, butin'nnetliatoly after this continued downward i'i'iovcment of the tr adle 2 causes it to engage the head or nut 44; and the rod is then drawn clownwardly the spring 18 yielding to permit such further cent. The downward movement of the rod 4-2 pulls down the arm 20 and the arm being eoni'iected to the slide Li-1i slide and the head 31 more ly together. The engagement of the head 31 with the shoulder 32 on the L's. l

,criunier causes the latter to he positively with a pluralit} ot lougitinhually ex'tent pressed over the open end of the shell or rartrulgjge 1'2, whercin'iou the hell. or conical mouth 2? tends to close the shell and at the same time the folders 30 form the creases in the shell, as appears in Figs. 1 and 'l.ho head 31 and crimper '35 having been arrested by the resistanceof the tilled shell, after partially closing the shell as above indicated the arm 20 is allowed a further downward movement hy reason of the travel of the member ll) in the slots 37 and 38, in. oppositimi to the sustaining tendency of the spring -l-1. The plunger 22 being fixed to th arm 20. slides down Within the arrested 'crnnper 35, the p1n-and-slot connection 536 peruuttiug this, and theflat end 24- coming in contact with the eriinped and folded end (it the shell, presses down and depresses the folds and completes the losure which then appears as shown in Fig. 10, in which the folds t5 overlap each other and the plane of said fold is helow the end (it the shell. there hein; provided a circular head to whicn is facilitated in being formed by the })l'( i.--l0ll of the annular channel 28 which is of greater diameter than the flange for that purpose. On the release of the trearlle 9, the spring 19 opens the-member tand the spring; 35 raises the slide 5?, and all the parts are arried upwardly to normal prsitiun. The closed shell 12 is then removed by the operator and another shell put in its place. These operations are carried on rery rapidly and easily with absolute safety.

The folded or closed end of the shell (onstitutes a ne invention which I claim in a separate. application. ,If the cartridge is paraillned after closing, owing to the character of the closure shown in Fig. 10, as formed by this machine, the cartridge is rundered waterproof.

The fielding and crimping mechanism may he used on another machine for closing the end of the shell before the explosive is tilled therein and said closing; mechanism constitutes a new invention by itself.

I Wish it understood that the number a I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters, Patent, is 4 1; Ina shell closer, the combination with a erim )er havin a concavit ada ted to receive the end of the shell, said crimper having internal folders adapted to form crimps or creases in the shell stationarily dis posed in the concavity, of a member movable in relation to the crimper adapted to form and press down the folds of the shell.

2. In a shell closer, the combination with a crimper having a concavity adapted to receive the end of the shell, said crimper having internal folders adapted to form crimps or creases in the shell stationarily disposed in the concavity, of a member movable within the crimper and provided with grooves or channels which receive the folders, said member being adapted to form and press down the folds of the shell.

3. In ashell closer, the combination with a crimper having a concavity adapted to bend the end of the shell, and internal folders arranged and adapted to crease or crimp the end of the shell, said folders having their ends inclined where they are adapted to engage the shell, of a folding member movable within the criinper and adapted to form the criinped end of the shell into folds and to press said folds down.

4. In a shell closer, the combination with a crimper having a concavity adapted to bend the end of the shell, and internal folders arranged and adapted to crease or crimp the end of the shell, said folders having their ends inclined where they are adapted to engage the shell, of a plunger movable within the crimper and provided with grooves or slots loosely receiving the creasers and folders aforesaid andadapted to form and press down folds on the end of the shell.

'5. A shell closer having a bell-shaped crimper adapted for receiving the'end of a shell and tapering or bending the shell end and provided with means for forming creases in the bent end of the shell, and a plunger operating Within the bell-shaped crimper adapted for forming folds on the creased end of the shell and for pressing down said folds.

6. A shell closer having a bell-shaped crimper adaptedfor receiving the end of a shell and tapering or bending the shell end and provided with means for forming creases in the bent end of the shell, and a plunger operating within the bell-shaped crimper adapted for forming folds on the creased end of the shell and for pressing down said folds, said bell-shaped crimper and plunger being constructed and adapted to each other so that they will press in the folded end of the shell and provide an outer raised ri1non said shell.

7. In a shell closing machine, the combination with a shell holder adapted to open and close, of a shell closer, a movable operating device, an operative connection between said operating device and the shell holder which is provided with a spring whereby it may be extended after the shell holder has closed, and an operative connection between the operating device and the shell closer.

8. In a shell closing machine, the combination with a shell holder having relatively movable parts, and spring'means adapted for opening said shell holder, of a movable shell closer embodying a crimper and a plunger which are movable in relation to each other and are both mounted to move together as an entirety, a spring which keeps the plunger normally retracted, a spring which keeps the complete shell closing means normally retracted, an operating member, a connection between said operating member and the shell holder embodying a spring and a flexible member, and an operative connection between the shell closer and the operating member. a

In testimony whereof, I hereunto affix my signature iii presence of two witnesses.

HENRY AUCHU.

Witnesses:

H. A. Cox, W. S. Swan'rwooo. 

